Tag Archives: Marilyn Manson

English singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Gary Numan first burst onto the scene fronting the New Wave electronic act Tubeway Army from ’76 to ’79. But that latter year also saw the arrival of Numan’s solo debut, The Pleasure Principle (stream it below), with its smash single, “Cars” (above, performed live for KEXP FM). “The most popular of all the Gary Numan albums is undeniably 1979’s The Pleasure Principle. The reasons are simple—there is not a single weak moment on the disc,” says AllMusic. Numan remained busy recording and touring for the next two decades, his unique electronic-pop sound influencing generations of musicians, including Trent Reznor, Foo Fighters, Afrika Bambaataa and Marilyn Manson. But after slowing down some around the turn of the century—and following the 2013 release of Splinter (Songs from a Broken Mind) (stream it below)—Numan returned this past September with Splinter (Songs from a Broken World) (stream it below). “Music can be a potent escape from the pressures and anxiety associated with the real world. But it can also be the exact opposite, acting as a mirror of society, reflecting its flaws. Gary Numan is doing the latter, confronting the dangerous, divisive times we live in and the long-term effects they might create,” says PopMatters. “Savage is a compelling cautionary tale of what may happen if we’re too complacent to give a damn about future generations. It’s also a stunningly sharp and diverse collection of songs from a living legend.” Numan’s fall tour comes to Brooklyn Steel on Thursday night. Local garage-rock duo Me Not You open the show.

Marilyn Manson – Terminal 5 – January 29, 2015

I had never seen Marilyn Manson perform before, so I was a little upset that I was running late to Terminal 5 last night. (Note to self: LISTEN when people say to give yourself an extra five minutes to commute in this town). Out of the cold and into the venue, I hadn’t even made it past the box office before I could hear ferocious screams from the crowd. As I wound my way upstairs to get to my usual vantage point on the third floor, I dodged couples making out in an uninhibited way, weaved around dancing fans and almost got knocked flat by a girl in a full-body black leather suit. It was quite the experience to walk into late, and that was before I’d even caught a glimpse of the night’s headliner.

Finally facing the stage, I watched as Manson performed for the next 90 minutes, each song eliciting more screams from the fanatical audience. He didn’t necessarily blaze through the set—instead, a slower, more methodical pace suited him—but Manson still managed to evenly cover his two-decade career. Each song was accompanied by some sort of sly joke or demand, like when he said he wanted them to “pound the witch drum” before his band started up “Cupid Carries a Gun,” or when he made a pun with the title of “Disposable Teens,” or when he asked his stage manager to tie his shoe before “No Reflection.” I hadn’t expected as much dry wit on top of the biting and provocative statements, but over the last 20 years the world has sort of caught up to how weird Manson used to seem. But those in attendance didn’t care either way: Everything he did stoked the fire of their fandom.

Over the course of the rest of the set, Manson oscillated among whipping around his microphone, kneeling on the stage monitors and striking dramatic poses during songs like his infamous cover of the Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams.” The night’s momentum peaked just at the end when Manson donned a black surgical mask, apron and, of course, some blood for “The Beautiful People.” The crowd contracted as almost everyone thrust their phones in the air, attempting to capture the night’s final celebration of freakish fun.—Sean O’Kane | @Sokane1

Going on 20 years now, Brian Warner—doing business as Marilyn Manson (above, his video for “Cupid Carries a Gun”)—has been known for shocking antics both onstage and off. But with the release of his ninth studio album, The Pale Emperor (stream it below), earlier this week, he’s being singled out for his music, earning some of the best reviews of his career. Per Rolling Stone, “Marilyn Manson hones his dark magic for his best, most twisted alt-rock party in years.” And AllMusic declares that “Manson and company sound like they’re stepping away completely from the caricature of themselves that started looming on the band’s weakest mid-2000s material. Taking their sound in a new, unforeseen bluesy direction accomplishes the near impossible by making Marilyn Manson sound even more sinister than before.” Catch Marilyn Manson on Monday night at Terminal 5. Brooklyn metal trio Unlocking the Truth open the show.